Butterthebean

I had them that first night after surgery. The most painful hiccups ever. And all of my usual remedies were suddenly off the table..chugging water or a tspoon of sugar usually knock them out. I walked around complaining like a baby until a nurse grabbed me and used her Jedi mind trick on me, or something cause she scared them right out of me.

Oh man I need to shop at a candy free grocery store. I am so sick of seeing candy bars at the checkout of every place on earth. Even the hardware store has candy racks now....right next to the credit card machine. Those little suckers jump into my basket without me even realizing it.

I like it. If you stay away from regular peanut butter, this stuff will taste quite good. But side by side, it doesn't quite match up. But to me the calorie difference makes it worth eating. Plus, since you have to measure it out and pre mix it, you can't sit there and over eat it like you can with regular PB. I like that about it. Definitely experiment with the mixture of water and powder because it makes a huge difference. A few drops too much water can make it too creamy. Too little water makes it grainy. A few drops can make or break it. But once you get your ratios figured out its consistent after that.

Well I always say, of you're going to eat a protein bar, quest bars are hard to beat nutritionally. I like them, but I don't seem to want them more than once or twice a month. I remember eating zone bars 3 at a time back before surgery...those suckers are like candy bars. Quest bars are not quite as good so I don't get all excited about them. But they do serve a need occasionally. I'd still rather eat some lean turkey or chicken. No one ever went on a carb binge after eating poultry.

Ok....you're close. I'm just outside of Cleveland.....in tiny Tarkington Prairie if you know where that is. I'm running the San Antonio rock n roll marathon 3 weeks before that one in college station. I've looked into that one though, it does look like a good race.

Fiddle...man it sounds like you're having a rough week. From everything I've read, who ever said they aren't sure about the cause of cramps is right. They have no idea. Common knowledge always said it was potassium and salt, but then they tested people with cramps and found no correlation. For me, I believe fatigue plays a huge role. And it would help explain why they always thought it was potassium. If you've been sweating heavily, chances are you've been working very hard and are also fatigued ...thus cramps. But I've worked in some very hot hot conditions in my life where we sweat so much are clothes were covered in salt by the end of the day....never lead to cramps. But then I'd go out and ride 20 miles on my bike and sweat very little, and cramp that night. As I've gotten in better shape, I've cramped less and less...until I over did it. And that's where you may be at. You train like a madman on few calories. Your body may be telling you that's it's overtrained. Maybe do some research into the symptoms of overtraining. We aren't as young as we used to be, and we've done a hell of alot in the last year. Perhaps your body needs a little time to recuperate.

That's terrific progress for a month out. Hell for anyone. Great job. Keep it right up. Soon you'll be running those 5K's. Good luck.

You're right about the short spurts. The other day I went to the track and did 30 minutes of interval running. I ran a 5K sprinting 60 seconds and walking 90 seconds. At the end I had burned 500 calories per my HR monitor. I cooled down, went home and sat on the porch for a bit relaxing. I didn't do anything but sit there, and over the next 30 minutes I burned another 300 calories just sitting on my ass. I forgot to stop my HR monitor and it was still ticking. Under any other circumstance, no way would I ever burn close to 300 calories just sitting on my butt. The after burn for intense exercise is very real and makes it a highly efficient workout and the most bang for your buck.

I exercised like a fiend from week 1 and I still look like someone sewed a cadaver onto me. But I feel like I could climb mountains and run through a brick wall. I never imagined I could feel this strong and this light on my feet. Sadly, I'm still a lazy ass at heart. Funny how that never changed.

That's awesome. When is the run? Congrats on getting in and good luck conquering those miles. Sounds like a scenic run.

Escape Pod....I have not read the book you recommended....but I could have written everything else you wrote. I can't give myself even the slightest amount of sweets, or I end up wanting more and more. I recently went on a carb binge that lasted almost a month, after...as you say....having no trouble staying motivated and strong for over a year. I think it started with me letting myself have a small piece of this or that. Which lead to more and more often, which lead to everyday for several weeks....me eating candy, donuts, whatever I could get. Anything sweet. Anyway, it took some effort...but after 3 weeks off the sweets, I'm finally starting to feel like my old self again. I think I've got my cravings much more under control and I've lost a few pounds that I regained. The way I did it was with a tool I read about called Fluid loading which is an RNY tactic for controlling hunger. You eat a normal meal. Then wait 2 hours before drinking. Seems harsh but it's not bad after the first couple of days. After the 2 hours, you spend the next 2 hours sipping at a regular pace...but continually sipping. By the end of that, you should be getting quite hungry. Once you are, you do the fluid load...you drink 16oz of Water as fast as you can. For me that means I chug about 8 oz and then keep topping off over the next 5 minutes or so. This will quell the need to eat for about 20-30 minutes. Once the hunger comes back and the bloated feeling has past....eat again. Then it starts all over. The first few days were like the first week after surgery. Eating and drinking on a timer seemed...forced. But after a few days it became routine and quite easy. Now it seems perfectly normal. It prolongs satiety between meals. And it prevents grazing and snacking because you're too busy playing this drinking game with the clock. By the time genuine hunger comes back you're full of water, by the time the water passes it's time to eat. At the end of the day, I've not been hungry, my fluid intake is up, and my calories for the day have been down by an average of 300-500 per day...simply because there wasn't enough time in the day to eat more following this schedule. I really like everything about it so far and my cravings are all but gone.

What part of Texas are you in? I'm north of Houston. I came in the other day from a run and my shoes were making squishy sounds on the floor...they were so wet. Looked like I just got out of the shower. I've run 2 half marathons so far, and several others have run full marathons. For me, the key is hydrating up before the run starts....I'm talking over hydrate. I start drinking a 32 oz bottle about an hour before I start running. On runs longer than 5 miles, I either carry a Water bottle or wear my camelbak. I've tried running with and without food. I seem to do just as well without, but I definitely need water. I usually add propel to my water as it's "almost" zero calorie...alot less than Gatorade for sure. Good luck with your half marathon.

The rest of us are going to Celebrate the 4th on Thursday....just saying.

I've done 2 half marathons since surgery plus several 10+ mile runs. There is also a thread called "for distance runners" with several folks who have done halfs, full marathons and even some triathlons. It's very possible to run that far and that long after being sleeved but it does take some due diligence and planning to pre hydrate and fuel as much as possible, and then to refuel and hydrate during the run. I almost always run with a Water bottle and now that it's so hot I run with my camelbak on anything over 8 miles.

That's awesome news. I remember some time ago you stating that she may have the surgery. Having you around will be a tremendous help to her. Don't you wish you had someone around like you full time to "advise" and motivate? Plus someone to tell you all the little things that the Doctor forgot to mention.

A well thought out post...as usual. Personally, I think I would have blown the maintenance phase when I was 19. I have read so many times how maintenance is the hardest part. I never believed it till now.

Brag away...you should be proud.

I remember thinking that exact same thing. Like WTF are they thinking? It took me a few attempts to get it. The first time I basically planned to break it up and do 2 10 minute runs with a 1 minute walk in between. Second time I ran for 15 minutes before taking the break. Third time was the charm and it was then that I started to feel like a runner. It took 3 attempts to accomplish it, but considering that I thought it was impossible, I call that a victory. You'll do it. Just gotta believe.

It's weird. Before surgery, I lived on burgers, French fries, pizza, sodas....anything that could be obtained at a fast food window. Now I don't need or want that stuff. I rarely had desert, but when I did....I really did! But now, a piece of pecan pie, or cheese cake or a donut....and it's like I'm ready to start a massive crime wave to get more. And I cannot get full on any of these foods....I've tried. There is no restriction. There is no satisfaction either....a little just makes me want more. What I wouldn't give for some dumping...or slimes! Anything to negatively reinforce those foods. But the only tool I have to deal with them is fear of how fast I can regain. After 14 months of doing this on my own, I'm now looking for a support group to help with this. I need a more positive tool.

Back when I first joined this forum, I don't recall seeing so many posts by vets who were struggling....and I thought I was really looking. Did I have rose colored glasses on? Part of it has got to be the creation of the vets forum. I think it gives up a great place to talk about these things. I've had some struggles too, and I can see that the natural reaction to that is to slink away from the forums. When you spend months thinking you have all the answers....then suddenly you get within sight of the finish line, and you have no answers. It's frustrating and humbling. Things are turning back in my favor now thankfully, but it's scary seeing how easy they can go awry. Mustering up a higher, permanent level of diligence is necessary for me. Abstaining from certain things keeps me stronger. Some thing's in moderation lead to loss of control. But I think it's great that we can all come here and talk about it.

The amount of calories doesn't bother me, but the lack of protein seems concerning. Maintaining muscle has got to be a concern for WLS patients. Protein and resistance training are the only things that will do that. If your muscle go catabolic, yes you'll lose weight but it won't all be fat, and in a year from now your metabolism will not be in good shape. Just my opinion but I think you're making the right decision to seek out another dietician.

I feel for you Lisa. I'm 13 months out too. I stopped losing just short of my goal, and nothing I've done has changed my weight. What's really hard is when you're strict and the weight still doesn't move. Makes it hard to be strict...makes me wanna cheat a little. And I have. Those sweets you mentioned...oh yes they do go down way too easy. I'm trying to turn it around though. But it takes that same kind of determination and motivation we had when we first took the plunge and had surgery. We have to dig down deep and find that.